Godavari Maha Pushkaram

                            Pushkaram is an Indian festival dedicated to worshiping of rivers. It is also known as Pushkaralu (in Telugu), Pushkara or Pushkar.It is celebrated at shrines along the banks of 12 major sacred rivers in India, in the form of ancestor worship, spiritual discourses, devotional music and cultural programmes. The celebration happens annually, once in 12 years along each river. Each river is associated with a zodiac sign, and the river for each year's festival is based on which sign Jupiter is in at the time. Due to regional variations, some of the zodiac signs are associated with multiple rivers.

                                  Godavari Maha Pushkaram, is a festival that is being celebrated from 14 July 2015 after 144 years, which means the 12th time in the 12 year Godavari Pushkaram cycle. Here, 'Maha' means "great" and Pushkaram means worshipping the rivers. Pushakaram is spelled Pushkaralu in Telugu, Pushkaram in Tamil, Pushkara in Kannada, and Pushkar in Hindi, is a Hindu festival of worship of theGodavari River which normally occurs once in 12 years. The festival starts from the Ashadha (June/July) month on Chaturdashi day (thithi) (14th day) when Jupiter enters the Zodiacal sign of Leo.The next Maha Pushkaram will be held in 2159. 

The festival will be observed for a period of 12 days from the time of entry of Jupiter into Leo zodiac sign; the planet remains in that sign for 12 months, but the first 12 days are considered most sacred, though the festival is observed throughout the year. The first 12 days of the Godavari Pushkaram are known as "Aadhi Pushkaram" and the last 12 days are titled "Anthya Pushkaram".